Weekly Photo Challenge: Three’s (Creating A Image Picture Story)

by Rick Diffley on February 23, 2014

The photo challenge this week focused on taking slightly different shots of your main subject to create a “Three Picture Story.” These shots are called: ”Establishing,” Relationship,” and “Detail” shots. I took a slightly different approach shooting my three images seen below. At the end, I discuss my “before” and “after” post processing thoughts using the original shot images.

Establishing Shot – Typically, this will be your wide angle shot. The actual focal length will depend on the distance to your main subject. I wanted my first shot to fill the image in order to show the detail of the front hood and grill of the green International truck. The focal length used here was 46.0.

RelationshipShot – This second shot is the zoom-in look of your “Establishing” main subject shot as noted in Michelle photo challenge column. My twist here is to show a different part of the truck knowing the viewer will still connect it to my “Establishing” first image shot. I used a closer focal length, 95.0 vs 46.0 used in the first image, in order to show detail.

The focal length, in combination with the f/stop, allowed me to slightly blur the signal light. My goal was to have the hood in sharp focus. Why? Because, I loved the differing green colors and lines created from the melting snow. Also, I wanted the word “International” in focus. Note: I could have easily done just the opposite, or have everything in focus, and have it still work.

Detail Shot – Michelle points out in her column, the final shot is the ”honed” in image of the main subject. Using a focal length of 105.0 my goal was to capture a shot that pulls the viewer closer in than the first two images. Of the three shots, this is my favorite.

Shooting Details

This green International green truck was in the small town of Fairfield, south of Spokane, Washington. It was for sale, sitting on a corner, in front of a closed down hamburger restaurant.

First Image – Here is the original image. I added saturation to the green truck color, the rust spots on the hood and the hood release, and at brightness to the grill. Note: Click on the image to see the post processing image.

Second Image – With this original shot I added some brightness to the amber colored turn signal light and to the narrow portion between the bottom of the hood and the main body of the truck. Note: Click on the image to see the post processing image.

Third Image – Finally, in this original image, I added saturation and brightness to the green paint and the rust colored screw in front of the door handle. Note: Click on the image to see the post processing image.

“…love the scratches.” Thank you! That is the fun behind filling the frame with your subject matter and/or shooting macro photography. It presents the viewer with something they normally would not notice or take time to study.

Regarding the my establishing shot and it should have been wider… I agree! I did take wider shoots, but they simply didn’t work. Why? the background and area surrounding the truck would have been too distracting. Even if I blurred the background significantly, it didn’t work for me. Now, if this truck was by itself, let’s say, in a wheat field, or parked in front of an old wooden barn, that may have been a wide angle shoot I may have done.